Ulta Beauty shares plummeted close to -30% Friday, after the company lowered its fiscal- full-year outlook and also missed earnings expectations.
The chain of stores selling cosmetics and hair & skincare products reported net income of $2.76 per share which, although higher than the year-ago quarter’s $2.46, fell short of the Street estimate of $2.80.
Revenue for the quarter increased +12% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, which was in line with expectations.
Comparable sales (which in this case includes stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased +6.2%. Last year same quarter, the growth was +6.5%.
But for the full-year, the company reduced its guidance citing headwinds in the U.S. cosmetics market. Ulta now expects EPS to range between $11.86 and $12.06 for the year, down from its prior projection of $12.83 to $13.03 range. The company indicated that the revision includes the effect of around $700 million in share buybacks and also the assumption of a 23% effective tax rate (versus 24% previously).
Ulta has predicted comparable sales growth of approximately +4% to +6%, down from previous estimates of +6% to +7%. The forecast includes e-commerce growth of +20% to +30%.
The company hopes to increase total sales by +9% to +12%, as compared to previous forecasts of low double-digit growth.
The company expressed plans to open around 80 new stores, remodel or relocate 20 others and do some touch-ups of about 270 stores.
ULTA may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options. In of 33 cases where ULTA's price broke its lower Bollinger Band, its price rose further in the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
a company that retails cosmetics and other personal care products
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